Interlocking building unit



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Patented June 5, 1945 IN TERLOOKING BUILDING UNIT 'Ernest O. Brostrom, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Emile S. Guignon, Jr., Kansas City, Mo.

Application November 30, 1942, Serial No.'467,289'

4 Claims. (Cl. 18986) This invention relates to building structures and more particularly to interlocking building units for sectional buildings.

In the construction of sectional building it is desirable that the units thereof have interlocking engagement one with another, to produce tight joints, to add to the rigidity and strength of the building, and to maintain correct alignment of the units.

This invention has for its principal aim therefore, the provision of a building unit having uniquely constructed peripheral edges cooperating with like edges of adjoining units to produce interlocking and overlapping joints whereby a tight building wall is obtained which will remain in positive alignment,

It is a further aim of this invention to provide units of the above character with interlocking joints adapted to embrace structural members such as purlins, studding and the like, thus producing an extremely rigid building wall which can be readily assembled or dismantled and moved to another point of use.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent during, the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is an elevational view of a roof portion comprising building units constructed in accordance with this invention. I

Fig. 2 is a condensed, plan view of a building unit with portions broken away to better disclose its structure.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a wall showing structural member embraced by the interlocking joints of the units, the dotted lines indicating the manner of moving a unit into place.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of a building unit taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4a is a fragmentary detailed view showing the open-end gutter at the joint.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of units provided with an interlocking joint designed to be used without the aid of structural members.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a building wall constructed with a slightly modified form of unit.

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the modified form of unit.

Fig.8 is an edge elevational view of a building unit illustrating structural members embraced by and supporting the units when used in wall structures.

Fig. 9 is a cross section taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of units like'those shown in Fig. 8, but having a modified type of joint. 2

Fig. 11 is a. sectional view of a roof portion built up of units modified in construction from those shown in the foregoing views, and preferably made of material other than metal.

Fig. 12 is a condensed plan view of the further modified building unit.

Fig. 13 is a vertical cross section taken on line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12, showingportions of adjoining units to indicate the character of interlocking joints produced when the units are assembled to form a roof or wall; and

Fig. 14 is a similar cross section taken on line XIV-EV of Fig. 12. a

In the preferred form of structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the building unit generally designated 20 may be used in either roof or wall construction. Unit 20 is preferably fabricated from sheet metal and comprise opposed panels or plates 22 and 24 held in spaced apart relation by suitable trussing, such as indicated at 26 and further; by upper and lower tie-members or webs Hand 29 respectively, arranged at intervals along the upper and lower edges of the unit.

Inner panel 22 has a peripheral inturned flange 30 which terminates at its upper and left-hand edges (Fig. 2), in laterally directed extension l ps 32.

Outer panel 24 is similarly provided on its side edges with inturned flanges 34 and on its lower edge with an inturned flange 36 of greater depth than flanges 34 and rebent upon itself to form a lip 38. One of flanges 34 is extended into'a, gutter 60, or this gutter may be separate. The upper edge of. outer panel 24 is bent outwardly to form a flange 40.

As will be observed from the drawings, inner and outer panels of the unit 20 are offset from each other, and accordingly, the'webs 28 along the upper edge of the unit extend from inner panel 22 to outer-panel 24 with their ends respectively welded or otherwise secured to these "panels. A portion of eachweb is formed arouately, asshown at 42, to embrace a partof a -may be an integral part of web 28 and serves as a seat carrying the roof or wall surface load.

Lower web 29 is also provided with an arcuate portion as indicated at 52 to engage the tubular member 44 and its ends are welded to the panels 22 and 24, this web being of different form than the upper web in order to create greater spacing 5 between the lower edges of the units than between their upper edges for a purpose presently to be disclosed.

A locking strip or tongue 54 parallel to and spaced slightly from flange 40 of the outer panel 24 is fixed to said panel and terminates at one end in a notch 59 to clear the gutter 60. Flange is similarly notched at 51. Tongue 54 engages flange 36 and lip 38 of an adjoining unit for maintaining the units in interlocking engagel5 ment.

Notches 56 and 58 out into the upper and lower edges respectively of inner panels 22, are sufficiently wide and deep to permit swinging of a unit into place over a hanger 46 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. These notches are in the units which occur over the structural elements only. The basic units do not have these notches.

A U-shaped trough is secured to the inner face of flange 34 along the right side of the unit 2.1 20 (Fig. 2), for the reception of flange 34 on the left side of an adjacent unit.

In building a wall or root of units constructed as above described, a series of structural members 44 are mounted in superposed parallel rela- :m tion by hangers 46 on suitable framework of the building. Preferably, the members 44 are anchored in the hangers 46 by bolts or the like 62. A unit 20 with its lower edge directed toward the framework and its notch 58 aligned with a hanger 46, is seated on a structural member 44 and swung into place with its upper webs 28 resting against the next higher member 44. Another unit, with its lower lip 38 hooked beneath lip 54 of the previous unit, is swung in the direction. of the arrow shown in Fig. 3 until it engages the next member 44. This procedure is continued horizontally and then vertically until the desired height of wall is obtained. The left flange 34 of each unit engages the trough portions 60 of the same tier. It will be obvious that the manner of laying a roof is identical tothat of erecting a wall.

While, for the sake of clarity, no insulation has been shown in the units, it is contemplated that the space between inner and outer walls 22 and 24 be completely filled with insulation of suitable character.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the webs 64 may be formed in continuous lengths and $13 without arcuate portions since it is recognized that structural members need not be employed in-walls or roofs of relatively small areas.

The modifled form of unit shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, and generally designated by the co numeral 10, is primarily intended for use in the construction of walls. Inner and outer panels I2 and I4 of unit 10 are spaced apart uniformly by webs 16, I8 and along their side, upper and lower edges respectively. Outer panel I4 has a (i5 peripheral inturned flange 82 terminating at its upper and right-hand edges (Fig. '7), in laterally directed flange portions 84. Inner panel 12 has a similarly inturnedperipheral flange 86, the upper and left-hand edges of which are bent 70 laterally to form lips 88.

produce an overlapping condition of its edges with cooperating edges of adjoining units. Notches and 92 in upper and lower edges respectively of inner panel 12 allow the unit to be swung to position over hangers 46 in exactly the same manner as that described in connection with the preferred type of unit 20.

In a wall built up of units 10 the lower flanges 82 of one section are positioned over the lateral flanges 84 of the next lower section. The side flange 82 of one unit abuts the lateral flange 84 of an adjacent unit and the side flange 86 of one unit rests against the lateral flange 88 of an adjoining unit. Thus, positive alignment of the sections is assured.

For self-supporting walls of small area, a modifled type of web 94, such as shown in Fig. 10,

. may be employed. Figs. 11 to 14 illustrate a further embodiment of this invention wherein the unit, generally designated I00, is formed of material other than metal. Unit I00 comprises a rectangular frame I02 of wood or the like, to opposite faces of which are secured an inner panel I 04 and an outer panel I06, these panels being spaced farther apart at their lower edges than at their upper portions so that an interlocking condition between adjacent units is obtained much like that of unit 20.

Outer panel I06 is provided on its inner face and along its lower edge with a rib I08 having an inclined face IIO directed toward the panel. Extending along the upper edge of the panel I06 and secured to the outer face thereof is a similar rib II2 having an inwardly directed face I I4, The upper edge of inner panel I04 terminates substantially on a median line of the upper portion of frame I 02 and its lower edge projects beyond that of the outer panel I04 to overlap the frame of a next lower unit, as clearly shown in Fig..l3. Supporting brackets II 6 are fastened, as by screws II8, to the frame of the unit and may be bolted to suitable framework of the building for supporting the wall or roof as the case may be, it being obvious that the unit I00 is adaptable for either wall or root construction. Notches I20 in the lower edges of panels I04 allow the units to be moved over the brackets I I6 to vertical position.

Extending along the left-hand edge of panel I06 (Fig. 12), and secured to the inner face thereof, is a rib I22 and a groove I24 to receive a like rib of an adjoining unit is formed in the outer face of panel I06 near its right-hand edge, that portion between the groove and the edge comprising a rib I26. The ribs may further be provided with channels I28 to form recesses for receiving a sealing medium when the units are assembled into a wall or roof structure.

The procedure of laying a roof or of erecting a wall with units I00 constructed as described, will be clear from the foregoing, and obviously, the hollow construction of this unit is such that it may be readily filled with insulation during its manufacture.

While two modifications of the instant invention have been-shown and described, it is conceivable that others might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is desired therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

I 1. In a building of the character described, spaced parallel structural members; and units mounted thereon comprising a pair of spaced apart panels, the upper and lower edges of one panel being ofiset with relation to the upper and lower edges of the other panel for insertion of the lower edge of one panelbehind one structural member to provide clearance between the upper edge of said last named panel and another structural member when a unit is moved to position between two structural members; tie members secured to said panels for holding the panels in spaced apart relation, certain of said tie-members being arranged to bear against the structural members; and means along the upper and lower edges of the other panel for interlocking engagement with respective lower and upper edges of adjoining panels.

2. In a building of the character described, spaced parallel structural members; and units mounted on the members, each comprising a pair of rectangular panels; tie members secured to said panels for holding the panels in spaced apart relation with one panel offset relative to the other panel for insertion of one edge of one panel behind one structural member while its opposite edge clears another structural member when a unit is swung to position between two structural members, certain of said tie members being arranged to bear against the structural members.

3. In a building of the character described,

spaced parallel structural members; brackets supporting the members; and units mounted on the members, each of said units comprising a pair of inner and outer rectangular panels; tie members secured to the panels for holding said panels in spaced apart relation with one panel ofiset relative to the other panel for insertion- 4. In a building of the character described,

spaced parallel structural members; and units mounted on the members, each of said units comprising an inner and an outer panel; tie members secured to the panels for holding said panels in spaced apart relation with the inner and outer panels offset relative to each other for insertion of one edge of the inner panel behind one structural member to provide clearance between the offset edge of said inner panel and another structural member when a unit is moved to position between two structural members; and extension lips on two adjoining edges of the inner panel for overlapping engagement with adjacent edges of inner panels of adjoining units.

ERNEST O. BROSTROM. 

